Totalizator



Jan. 10, 1950 R. E. WELLS 2,494,411.?

TOTALIZATOR Filed. Oct. 9, 1942 14 Sheets-Sheet 1 In ea an Jan. 10 1950 R. E. WELLS 2,494,419

TOTALIZATOR Filed 00%,. 9, 1942 14 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 10, 1950 R. E. WELLS 2,494,419

' TOTALIZATOR Filed Oct. 9, 1942 14 Sheets-Sheet 3 R. E. WELLS Jan. 10, 1950 TOTALIZATOR 14 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed 001. 9, 19. 2

Jan. 10, 1950 Filed Oct. 9. 1942 R. E. WELLS 2,494,419

TOTALIZATOR 14 Sheets-Sheet 5 A) 0 b 0, ea q m an 5 Inmm Jan. 10, 1950 R. E. WELLS} 2,494,419

TOTALIZATOR Filed 06L 9, 1942 14 Sheets-Sheet 6 Jan. 10, 1950 R. E. WELLS 2,494,419

TOTALIZATOR Filed Oct. 9, 1942 l4 Sheets-Sheet 8 R. E. WELLS TOTALIZATOR Jan. 10, 1950 14 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Oct. 9, 1942 Jan. 10 1950 R. E. WELLS 2,494,419

TOTALIZATOR Filed Oct. 9, 1.942 1.4 Sheets-Sheet l0 R. E. WELLS TOTALIZATOR Jan. 10, 1950 14 Sheets-Sheet 11 Filed OC'b. 9, 1942 Jan. 10, 1950 R. E. WELLS ,7

TOTALIZATOR Filed Oct. 9, 1942 1,4 Sheets-Sheet l2 win P601 Jan. 10, 1950 Filed Oct. 9, 1942 R. E. WELLS TOTALIZATOR l4 Sheets-Sheet 13 '5 j 1 ye/6 17%;

R. E. WELLS Jan. 10, 1950 TOTALIZATOR Filed Oct. 9, 1942 Ewe f0; fh/[P 14 Sheets-Sheet l4 Patented Jan. 10,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application October 9, 1942, Serial No. 461,473 In Australia June 28,1938

2 Claims. 1'

This invention has reference to improvements in totalizators for use upon racecources, or in conjunction with a race such as a horse race,.and which provides for the issue of betting tickets in respect of the various competitors. The present application is a continuation-ih-part of application Serial No. 280,183,.fi1ed'June 20, 1939, and now abandoned.

Various types of totalizators have been devised from time to time, and their construction has been determinedby the betting. facilities d'emanded of them. For example, some totalizators provide for speculation. only as to the winner of a race; others provide for speculation as-to competitors coming,.first,. second or third. in. a race; and others provide for speculation on the possibility of two competitors gaining. first place, one in one race, and one in another. The foregoing examples areusually designated Win, Place, and Doubles totalizators, respectively.

The dividend payable inrespectoi the success ful competitor or competitors isdetermined in each instance, by the ratio'of thenumber of tickets issued in respect of that competitor or competitors, to the number oi? tickets issued in respect of all of the competitors in the; raceor races concerned, a deduction having first been made from the total amount of money invested, to provide for taxes and operating, expenses.

More particularly, the present invention has been devised with-theobject of providing a totalizator capable" of being operated in respect. of the above-three examples of. speculation. That is to" say this invention will provide for tickets being.

issued concurrently to persons backingacompetitor to win, or to come first, second or third irr. a "race, or with a second competitor in another race,

tical' rows indicates the respective competitors the other race upon which Doubles may be backed, at the choice of the person participating. Other rows' of numerical indicators may be included for a Win tote and a Place tote or the Win and Place totes may be arranged in separate groups. In conjunction with the to- 22 talizator there are Windows or stations from which tickets on the races are sold to investors.

In the above known form of Doubles totalizator it is customary to have the tickets assembled for-sale in a rack supported adjacent to the sellingst'ations. Each of the tickets when sold, bears two numbers representing respectively the competitors which are selected by the investor as a Double. As' a ticket is issued the numbers on the ticket are communicated by the seller to an operator stationed at a switchboard. The operator depresses the respective switch corresponding' to the respective numbers of the competitors selected in both races on which the Double is backed, closing an electric circuit to a solenoid provided for operating the numerical indicator at the position vertically and horizontally corresponding to the two competitors comprising the Double.

Simultaneously with the movement of the particular Doubles indicator mechanism referred to above, a separate indicator is caused to display to the public the grand total of tickets sold in respect of the two races for which the Doubles tickets are being issued. In the operation of the above known form of Doubles totalizator, difiiculty is experienced in coping with the demands of prospective investors, as the operator at the switch board often cannot keep pace with the rate at which the tickets are sold.

Anobjecto'f the present invention is to provide automatic means for reducing the amount of manual lab'orfound necessary to operate indicatingapparat'us such as that in the above known form of Doubles totalizator, and provide eiiicient' means whereby the issuing of the tickets may be considerably expedited, and whereby the usual-- numerical indicator drums will be caused to operate automatically and practically simultaneously with the selling of the tickets.

The present invention includes two selector switches incorporated in a ticket issuing machine one oiwhich machines is disposed at each ticket selling station, each selector switch having a switch arm common to a plurality of contacts,

one contact being provided for each competitor in a race or races as the case may be. Where a Win or Place tote are provided for a contact is provided for each in conjunction with one ofthe selector switches.

The function of the ticket issuing machine and selector switches thereof is to print and issue a ticket in: a known manner, but chiefly to provide means for selectively supplying current for an operating mechanism which, subsequently, re-

suits in the sale of the ticket being indicated on the above referred. to totalizator drums. In carrying out the invention means are provided whereby the respective ticket issuing machines are locked until ready for the sequence of ticket issuing steps. Each ticket issuing machine has a control handle, the chief function of which is to complete the circuits determined by the setting of the above selector switches and provide a source of current for operating the totalizator drum solenoids.

Provision is also made whereby in the operation of the numerical indicators, current is supplied to means thereon for indicating faults.

The apparatus also includes a distributing device the function of which is to receive current impulses from the respective contacts of the respective ticket issuing machines, and provide a circuit to the solenoids operating the respective indicating drums. This distributing device also provides for the supply of positive current to safety magnets used in conjunction with a switch controlling gear.

Means are also provided to control the current when a plurality of issuing machines is in use in order that more than one of said machines will not register at the same time, thus avoiding a false indication of bets or tickets issued. Such means may include double throw switches operated electromagnetically.

The mechanism for operating the indicating drums may be of a known form, depending for its operation upon a solenoid operated feed mechanism. In the present invention a mechanism is provided between the solenoid and the ratchet whereby, should the drum or its mechanism be inoperative, an electric warning circuit is established.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the ticket issuing machine used in conjunction with the present invention, one of which will be used at each ticket issuing station.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic elevation of the distributing device, showing one of the oscillating drums mounted eccentrically in the framework.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view of three banks of double throw switches used to control the current when four issuing stations are in use, so that two issuing machines will be unable to register an investment simultaneously.

Fig. 4 is a detail view showing the means adapted to rotate the numeral indicator drums on the face of the totalizator.

Fig. 5 is a view of portion of the face of a known totaliaato showing the vertical and horizontal rows for the various competitors, spaces for the particular race in question and the grand total window in the center.

Figures 6 and 7 illustrate the complementary face plates of the ticket issuing machine with their respective competitor contacts set in the arcuate insulating strips.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section through one of the ticket issuing machines, showing part of the ticket printing mechanism with its associated locking pawl and lock plate; the two selector switch arms with their respective contact points; and a portion of the control handle with its associated contact plate at the left.

Fig. 8a is sectional view taken on the line 8a8a of Fig. 8.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary section on the line 99 of Fig. 8 showing the printing anvil; the roller therefor which is operated by the control shaft so as to raise the printing anvil against the printing rollers, and ticket feed rollers at the left.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged section on the line Ill-l0 of Fig. 2 showing the eccentric mounting of the oscillating drums of the distributing device.

Fig. 11 is a detail view in rear elevation of three of the numeral drums as seen in dotted lines in Fig. 4.

' Fig. 12 is a section on the line |2l2 of Fig. 8 indicating the relative position of the main fixed contacts of the issuing machine in their insulated disc.

Fig. 13 is an elevation of the Vulcanite disc shown in Figure 12 with its associated metal contacts.

Fig. 14 is an elevation of the moving contact plate which is preferably of spring steel and is complementary to the contact disc of Fig. 12.

Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic view showing a circuit arrangement for the respective parts of the invention.

Fig. 16 is a diagrammatic view of other circuits of the apparatus illustrating the means for preventing simultaneous peration of two machines.

One of the ticket issuing machines, shown in Fig. 1, is illustrated in longitudinal section in Fig. 8 and comprises two complementary face plates 30! and 3432 as seen in Figs. 6 and 7. These face plates are bolted together through holes 20 in lugs 22 and the bolts are shown at 20a in Fig. 1.

An indicator strip 21 of approximately semicircular shape is disposed outwardly of the face plates. As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 8 the strip 2| is secured to the lugs 22. This indicator strip 2! is divided into the required number of divisions according to the number of competitors provided for on the totalizator and one division is marked W and one marked P where a Win and a Place tote are provided for, each division on the strip corresponding to one of a series of contacts 23 set in an arcuate insulating strip 24, there being two such strips, 24, one on each of the inner surfaces of the respective face plates Fig. 6 and Fig. 7.

Each ticket machine has two selector switch arms 25 and 26 provided with spring contacts 27 and 28, respectively, which are adapted to engage the respective competitor contacts 23. The arms 25 and 26 are securely attached to respective printing wheels 29 and 39, shown in Figs. 8 and 9, which are mounted upon a shaft 3| concentrically disposed with respect to the competitor contacts 23 and the indicator strip 2|. The switch arms 25 and 25 are disposed between the respective face plates 30! and 302.

Each selector switch arm 25 and 26 has formed integral therewith a pointer 32 and 33 respectively V enabling the operator of the machine to readily select the required competitor on the indicator strip and simultaneously register the switch arm with the corresponding competitor contact 23 as explained later.

In order to obtain correct registration of the printing wheels 28 and 30 and the contacts 23 during the issuing of a ticket to an investor, a spring detent 3*! is provided on each of the arms 25 and 26 and engages series of notches 35 formed in the inturned flanges of the face plates as shown in Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, thereby retaining said arms in their correct positions while the ticket is being printed and the bet indicated on the numeral drums 36 Fig. 4 in a manner to be explained later.

. Theprinting wheels 29. and. 30. already referred to, have a series ofslots 31 corresponding to the number of competitors provided for, said slots being adapted to receive in a known manner printing type. (not shown), bearing the numbers of the various competitors ina. race or races, and one for Win and one for Place if a win and a place tote are provided for.

A locking plate 33 is secured to each of the printing wheels 23 and 30, each. having. notches 3'9 formed in their periphery, the number of notches corresponding, to the number of slots 31 in the printing. wheels 29 and. 30, said notches 39 being engaged by a. pawl 40 which ensures correct alignment of the respective parts during. printing of the ticket. One pawl 40 is pivotally mounted at-3Il4- below the locking. plate 38 as shown in Fig. 8 so as to engage the notches 39 therein. A similar pawl. 40 is. mounted. below the plate for locking the printing wheel 30 and the latter pawl is shown in Fig. 8a.

The respective pawls 40 are moved into and out of engagement with the notches 39 in the respective locking plates 38' on the printing wheels 29 and 38 by the action of a. cam I48 acting upon a roller 42 mounted to actuate both pawls 40. The clutch member 4| is secured to the shaft 43 of the control handle 44.

A printing anvil 45 of known construction is pivoted upon one of the face plates and is engaged with the type, when inserted. in the slots 31 of the printing wheels 29 and 30, by the action of a roller 46, shown in Fig. 9 carried in a cam 47 which is keyed on the shaft 43 of the control handle 4-4. The ticket strip 48 is fedin between 'the anvil 45 and the printing wheels 29 and 30 as shown in Fig. 9 and passes through the ejecting rollers 49 and 50 to the investor.

Selecting contacts 5|, 52', 53, 54 and55 are seen at the left of the control handle shaft 43 these being mounted on a movable contact member 56 formed as illustrated inv Fig. 14 said member. being carried by an assembly I46 mounted free upon the control shaft'43 and operated by the clutch member 4I fixed on the shaft 43. The clutch member 4I rotates the assembly I46 in an advance direction but is capable. of returning free of the assembly I46 and leaving itin an engaged position under the.- retention of. a locking pawl I4!- which is arranged to. engage the cam I48 as shown in Fig- 8a. In other words when the shaft 43 is rotated in. the directionof the arrow shown, in Fig. 8a. the assembly I45 is driven by clutch member 4 I and the roller 42 is engaged by the cam I48 to move the pawls 40 into the notches 39 in the locking plates carried by the printing wheels 291 and 30. The assembly I45 is retained in such rotated position by the pawl I4! which. is urged into engagement with the detent 20I. by a spring 202. As the shaft. 43 is returned to. a normal position the printed ticketis ejected by some known type of. ejecting mecha- J nism, not shown, and av ratchet tooth 203. on the clutch member 4 I- isengaged by a paw1.204 which prevents further operation of the control shaft 43 until the assembly I46 returns to a normal position and releases the pawl 204-. The assembly I 46 is retained-in the rotatedpostion for the purpose of maintaining. various. electrical circuits as hereinafter described but the cam I48 is released when the coil I04 is energized to withdraw the pawl I47. Thereafter the assembly I46 and the cam I48 are returned to inoperative positions by means of a spring 2051 Such ciockwiserota- 6: tion. of the. assembly I46. and the cam I40 is arrested by a pm 208 and during. the: retraction of the assembly a portion 201 of the cam L48 swings the pawl 204 to free the clutch member 4| for further operation.

Corresponding contacts 51', 58, 59,. 60 and Gil mounted on. the frame 68' are. adapted for engagement by the contacts 5|, 52,. 53,. 54 and. 55, and are adapted to receive terminals for external connection. The contacts 51 58, 59,. 6.0 and; GI are mounted in a Vulcanite or the like. insulated disc 39', as shown in. Fig. 1 3. Fiber. bushings are used throughout to insulate the various contacts.

from the frame 6'8 of the machine and the movable contact member 55. v

' The five moving contacts 5|, 52, '53, 54 and 55 rotated by the assembly I46 and the corresponding fixed contacts 51*, 58, 59, 60 and GI are provided for the purpose of completing the circuits from the selector switch arms 25 and. .26 to the controlling mechanism, Fig. 3, and. indicating de.-- vices. Fig. 4, and for the means under their control.

One of the selector switch arms 25 may engage additional contacts 10. and II. The contact I'll being utilized. when a ticket is sold representing a bet that a particular competitor will Win the event, and the other contact II will be. utilized when a. ticket is sold representing. a bet that a particular competitor will finish second or Place in the event. The other selector switch arm is set on the number of the competitor which is being backed for a Win or Place. To facilitate this description. the two additional. contacts 10 and TI will be hereinafter referred to as the."W-in and Place contacts I0 and. 'II' respectively.

Assuming that eighteen competitors are to be provided for in each of two races for. which doubles tickets are to be sold, the face of the totalizer, Fig. 5, is divided horizontally into 1'8v spaces each space representing. a horse in one race and vertically into 18 spaces eleven of. which are shown in Fig. 5. The intersection of the horizontal and vertical places form minor spaces. Each minor space, therefore, represents a. horse in one race and a horse in a second race and thereby forms pairs. For example, the upper space I81 in Fig. 5 represents horse No. I in one race and horse No 18= in the other race. In each minor space there is. a. solenoid operated indicator,. as shown in Fig. 4 which. may bein the form of numeral drums 36' of well known construction. When the totalizator is also to-be used for a Win and Place totalizator Doubles separate spaces I2, and: corresponding. solenoid operated indicators, must be provided in the face of the totalizator, for'each competitor in one particular race, under the designation Win, and. a similar set of spaces I3 and indicators under the designation Place. as. shown. at the upper left corner of Fig. 5. The spaces so designated may be arranged in horizontal. rows parallel with those previously referred: to and immediately below and in association with the upper rowoi numerals representing the several horses in one race.

Current controlling apparatus In order that two or more. impulses fromdifferent ticket selling. stations. may not be transmitted to the indicating apparatus simultaneously apparatus which may bereferred to as'current controlling means, has. been provided which includes the switches shown. in. Fig. 3; The current controlling apparatusnecessary for theafour stations, as in the present example, consists of three sets of separately operated controls or switches I39, I49 and m. In each set 139, :40 and MI there are eight terminals, four being disposed on the right and four being disposed on the left as seen in Fig. 3, the controls in each set being operated in two directions, left or right, by respective electro-magnets I29, H9, I01, IZI, I96, and 122 and the shafts I43.

From this it will be seen that the invention ensures that only one set of contacts can be connected at one time, and in the event of both magnets of each set being energized simultaneously, the terminals can only move in the one direction according to which magnet gets the advantage when energized.

Distributing device To actuate the aforesaid solenoid operated indicators shown in Fig. 4, and on the face of the totalizator seen in Fig. 5, there is a distributing device embodying a plurality of oscillating drums 14 as illustrated in Fig. 2 one for each of the horizontal rows of indicators of the Doubles totalizator and one each for the Win totalizator and "Place totalizator seen in Fig. 5.

Each oscillating drum 74, shown in greater detail in Fig. 10, is mounted eccentrically at 15 in a framework 76 and has a row of contacts 11 electrically connected to the respective contacts 23, which are under the control of wiper contact 28 of switch arm 26.

Arranged to engage the contacts 11 on the drums 14 is a plurality of resilient arms 18 shown in Figs.,10 and 15 which are secured on an insulated backing piece 79, said resilient arms 18 each being electrically connected to the respective solenoids 89, of the horizontal rows of indicators for which the oscillating drum 14 is provided.

Each of the drums M is maintained in its normal position by means of a spring 8|, as shown in Fig. 2, and is oscillated by means of a respective solenoid 82 which derives current from the respective contacts 23, which are engaged by the wiper 27 of the selector switch arm 25, of the particular ticket issuing machine in operation.

Numeral drums The numerical indicators or drums 36, which are shown in Figs. 4 and 11, are disposed in groups of three to represent units, tens and hundreds, each units drum being rotated by a solenoid 89 which is electrically connected to the distributin device of Fig. 2.

An aperture or window l8l is provided as usual,

in the face I82 of the totalizator, for each indicator or group of drums 36, each of said groups of drums oeing mounted upon a shaft 83 carried in bearings such as 84 and 85 said bearings being secured upon a shelf 86 bolted to the rear face of the totalizator. The solenoid 89, which is securely attached to the rear surface of the totalizator actuates a plunger 81 which is slidable in a bifurcated upright 88 also supported on the shelf 86. The bifurcated upright 88 has secured thereto an insulating block 89 of Vulcanite or the like to which are pivoted three metal contact arms 90, 9|, 92 said arms 9| and 92 having contact screws 93 and 94 respectively.

On the under side of the plunger 81 which is preferably of square or rectangular formation, a short lug 95 is formed integral therewith. An abutment screw 96, parallel with the plunger 81 and threaded through the lug 95 is adapted to strike a lever 91 pivoted at 98 to a fitting 99 on the shelf 86. A pawl Hill is pivotally mounted on the lever 9'1 and engages a ratchet wheel lDI secured to the shaft 83 upon which the drums 3B are mounted. A spring IUOa is provided for returning the lever 91 to an inoperative position when the coil 89 is deenergized.

The units numeral drum 36 in Fig. 4 and shown at the left in Fig. 11 is rotated upon energization of the coil 89 which moves the plunger 81 and the pawl N39 to thereby rotate the shaft 83 and the units drum 39 secured thereto. The units drum.36 is rotated by electrical impulses impressed across the coil 89 and the numeral nine will eventually appear in the aperture or window l8l before the tens numeral drum 35a is actuated it being understood that the drums of denominations above units are rotatable on the shaft 83. The mechanism for transferring move-- ment to the tens drum 36a is known in the cyclometer art and such means includes a pin 31a, a transfer-wheel 38a and pins 39a. The arrangement is such that the units drum 36 describes an arc of 360 degrees for every ten impulses of the plunger 8? and then the tens drum 36a is rotated by means of the pin 37a and the transferwheel 33a and the pins 39a one-tenth of one complete revolution. A similar arrangement is provided for transferring one complete revolution of the tens drum 35a to the hundreds drum 36b. The tens and hundreds drum are mounted for free rotation on the shaft 83 and means such as the depending resilient arms 40a. are provided for preventing inadvertent rotation of these drums.

Referring again to Fig. 4, the plunger 81 has a roller I02 mounted thereon, which engages the central contact arm 9| during the inward movement of the plunger 8? when the solenoid is energized. On this movement taking place the arm 9! moves about its pivot I93 and the contact screw 93 engages the arm 99 thereby closing a circuit which supplies the necessary current tc the coil I 04 so as to release the pawl I41 during actuation of the plunger 87 whereby the numerai indicator formed of the drums 36 is operatec before the assembly I 46 is permitted to return to an inoperative position. The release of the pawl M! from the cam I48 frees the machine foi operation with respect to the next investment Theplunger or armature 8'! is withdrawn or returned to an inoperative position by means of 2 spring 298 as shown in Fig. 4.

The contact arm 92 supplies current to a signaj device such as a lamp 2|9 which remains energized in the event the plunger 81 does not returr to the inoperative position by the spring Zili when the coil 89 is no longer energized. Thus the fault may be traced and corrected. The lamp 210 is energized when the contact screw 9 engages with the lower part of the arm 9| am the plunger 81 is in its inward position, one terminal of the lamp being connected with negative potential and the other with positive poten tial through the arm 9!. The contact is broker when the plunger 81 returns to rest.

Supposing a person backs say No. 1 competito1 to win the race. He approaches a ticket window The ticket vendor will move the switch arm 25 tr engage the Win contact 70, and he will mow the switch arm 28 to engage No. 1 contact thereof as shown in Fig. 15.

When the switch arm 25 is moved to engagl the Win contact 10 the printing wheel 29 i:

rotated so as to position a type carrying the letters Win over the strip 48. Rotation of the switch arm 26 so as to engage the No. 1 contact will also cause the printing wheel 30 to position a type therein bearing No. 1 over the ticket strip 48. Thereafter the control handle 44 is actuated to rotate the shaft 43 and the clutch member 4I. During such rotation of the shaft 43 the cam I48 is rotated to raise the pawls 40 into notches 39 in locking plates 38. The spring 202 then moves the pawl I41 to engage the detent 20I of the cam I48. Thus the assembly I45 is maintained in a rotated position.

The insulating member 56 is rotated during turning. of the assembly I40 so that the contact 55 engages the contact 59 and the contact 5! engages the contact 51. The contacts 6i and 58 are then bridged by means of a conductor 200 which connects the contacts 52, 53 and 54. Thus positive current which is supplied to the contact BI is also supplied to the contact 58 through the conductor 200 and to one terminal of the coil I01 through the conductor 40I and the other terminal of the coil I01 is connected to the negative side of the line by a wire 402. Thus the lower selector switch group I4! is swung downwardly on the left whereby the switch blade I I engages the terminal I I2 and the switch blade I I I engages the terminal H3. The switch blade H6 makes contact with the terminal H and the switch blade I32. is electrically connected to the terminal I3I.

Positive current is also supplied to the contact 60through the conductor 200 and this positive potential is supplied through the conductor 22! to one terminal of the coil i053 and this coil is energized since the other terminal thereof is connected to the negative side of the line by a wire 0. Thus the group of switches I 40 is swung downwardly to the right and the switch blades thereof engage the terminals at the right side thereof in Fig. 15.

Positive current is supplied to the central portion of the switch blade I 08 which is then 'engaging the terminal 222 and this positive current passes along the conductor 223 to the switch blade H0 and therethrough to the terminal II2 through the conductor 224 to the contact 59. The contact 59 is then in engagement with the contact 55 so that positive current is then conducted through the wire 225 to the wiper contact 21 and the contact 10. This positive potential is applied through the conductor 226 to a solenoid coil 82 in the distributor assembly corresponding to Win. Positive potential is also supplied to the contact wiper arm 28 through the switch blade I09 and the terminal 221 and the conductor 228 through the switch blade I I I. This circuit then extends through the contact I I3 and the conductor 229 to the contact 51 and the contact 5I' and the conductor 230 to the contact 23 opposite the No. l competitor. A conductor 23I extends from this contact 23 to a terminal I I4 in thedistributing mechanism.

When the coil 82 is energized the associated drum 14 is rotated so that the contacts 11 engage the blades 18. A conductor 233 extending from one of the contacts 18 to the coil 80 of one of the totalizators supplies positive current to the coil I80 and the other terminal of this coil is connected \to the negative side of the source. The coil 80 Yactuates the plunger or armature 61 so as to otate the numeral drum 36 one unit correspondng to the selection made by the switch arms 25 nd 26 and the actuated distributor assembly.

Whenthe arm 91' and thescrew 93 thereof engages the contact arm positive current is supplied to one side of the coil I04 through a wire 234 and the other terminal of the coil I04 is connected to the terminal H5 of the lower selector switch I4I by means of a conductor 236 and the circuit is thus established to the switch blade H6 and the conductor 235 to the terminal I I1 and the switch blade I it and to the negative side of the source so that the coil 504 is energized and the pawl I4! is retracted whereby the spring 205 will return the assembly its to an inoperative position. It is to be noted, however, that the coil I04 cannot be energized until the proper drum 36 has been actuated.

After the coil I04 has been energized and when the assembly I46 is returned to an inoperative position by means of the spring 205 the contact member 56 is rotated to interrupt the circuit supplying a positive potential to the contacts 58 and 60 from the terminal 0!. Under such circumstances the coils Hit and I01 would normally be deenergized and release the switch groups I40 and MI for turning movement it the coils H9 and I22 are then energized by some other ticket issuing machine. Such release of the group switches I40 and MI is prevented by means of a relay I21. The coil of this relay I21 is energized when the distributor drum 14 is actuated by the coil 82. A positive potential is then supplied through the closed contacts I23 and I26 to establish a circuit through the conductor 420 through the coil of the relay I21 and the other terminal thereof is connected by conductor 42I to the terminal I3I. The circuit of the coil of the relay I21 is then completed through the switch blade I32 and a conductor 422 through the terminal I33 and through the switch blade I34 to the negative side of the supply. Thus the relay I21 is energized when the distributor drum 14 is actuated. The switch blade 423 of the relay I21 is connected to the positive side of the source and when this blade engages the contacts I36 and I35 positive potential is supplied through the conductor 424 to one terminal of the coil I06 and positive potential is also supplied through the conductor 425 to one terminal of the coil I01. Since the other terminals of the coils I06 and I01 are connected to the negative side of the supply these coils remain energized even though the positive potential is no longer supplied through the conductors 40I and 22I The switch group I40 thus remains in the position shown in Fig. 15 and the group switch I4I also remains with the blades thereof in engagement with the contacts shown at the left in Fig. 15. The group switches I40 and MI cannot therefore be utilized for operation by other ticket issuing machines until the drum of the distributor 14 returns to an inoperative position.

The coil of the relay I21 is also energized from the positive side of the source connected to the arm 9| when the armature 01 swings this arm 9| in engagement with the screw 94 so as to supplypositive potential to the coil of the relay I 21 through the wire 426 and the conductor 420. This circuit is maintained if the armature 81 does not return to an inoperative position and the double throw switches I 40 and MI are thus not released until the drum 14 of the distributor assembly returns to an inoperative position and after the arm 9| is disengaged from the contact screw 94. Such means prevents the operation of the ticket issuing machines in the event that the indicating drum mechanism which includes the armature 01 becoming jammed or in the event the distributor drum I4 fails to return to an inoperative position.

The invention includes signal means for indicating the failure of the armature 81 to return to a normal inoperative position and such means may include the lamp 2I0 which will continue to remain illuminated in the event that the armature 8'! becomes jammed.

When the contact member 56 and the assembly I46 return to an inoperative position the circuit through the conductor 226 is interrupted since the contact 55 no longer engages the contact 59. Thus the coil 82 is deenergized and the drum of the distributor assembly is thus normally returned to an inoperative position by means of the spring 8|. The circuit to the coil 80 is thereby interrupted and the armature 81 will normally return to an inoperative position by means of the spring 208. The coil of the relay I2I will thereby be de-energized and the supply circuits to the coils I06 and I01 will thus be interrupted by downward movement of the switch blade 423 and the blades of the group switches I40 and I4! will thereby be free for movement to engage the contact at either of the sides thereof.

Similarly, should a person back No. 1 competitor for a place, the vendor will move the switch arm 25 to the Place contact II, and the switch arm 26 to its No. 1 contact. The operation of the mechanism when a Place bet is made on a No. 1 competitor or horse is similar to the operation hereinabove described except that a different solenoid B2 of the distributor mechanism is energized through the wire 440 and current is supplied to a solenoid 80 corresponding to a Place bet on a No. 1 competitor. In this case the ticket issuing mechanism is likewise not free for further operation until the coil I04 is energized.

If a Doubles investment is called for which is assumed to include a competitor No. 10 in one race and a competitor No. 5 in another race each machine may be used for this purpose. In operation of the totalizing system and a ticket issuing machine for such a Doubles selection the operator moves the switch arm 25 to the No. contact 23 as shown in Fig. 16 and the switch arm 25 is moved to the No. 5 contact 23. During the swinging movement of the switch arms 25 and 26 the printing wheels 29 and 30 are moved so as to position the type bearing No. 10 and N0. 5 over the ticket strip 48. When the handle 44 is operated in a manner hereinabove described the pawls 4c are actuated to maintain the printing wheels in the selected positions and the ticket is printed. The operation of the handle 44 also causes the contact member 56 to be rotated whereby the contact 5| engages the contact 51 and the contact 55 engages the contact 59 and the conductor 200 bridges the contact 58, 60 and 6|. Positive current is then supplied from the contact iii to the contact 50 through the conductor 22I to one terminal of the coil I06 and since the other terminal thereof is connected to the negative side of the supply the switch group I40 is moved downwardly to the right in Fig; 16. The contact 58 is also supplied with positive potential from the contact 6| through the conductor 208 and this positive current passes through the conductor 40I to one terminal of the coil I01 and the other terminal thereof is connected to the negative side of the supply by the conductor 402. Thus the group switch MI is moved downwardly and to the left in Fig. 16.

The central portion of the switch blades I08.

and I09 are connected to the positive side of the source and a positive potential is thus supplied through the terminal 222 and the conductor 223 to the switch blade H0 and the terminal H2 and through the conductor 224 to the contact 59 which is then in engagement with the contact 55. This circuit extends from the contact 55 through the conductor 225 to the wiper blade 21 which is then in contact with No. 10 contact 23. This positive current is then supplied through a conductor 450 to the solenoid 82 corresponding to No. 10 of the distributor mechanism so that the related drum I4 is operated.

Positive potential is supplied to the wiper arm 28 through the switch blade I09, the terminal 221, the conductor 228, the switch blade III, the contact II3, the conductor 229, the contact 51, the contact 5I and the conductor 230. Since the wiper blade 28 is in engagement with the No. 5 contact 23 positive potential is supplied to the conductor 45I which is connected to one of the terminals II4 of the distributor assembly and through a conductor 452 to the No. 5 contact 11 of the No. 10 drum 14. The associated contact I8 is connected by means of a wire 453 to a solenoid 80 in the totalizator at the intersection in the No. 10 and No. 5 rows. This solenoid 80 is therefore energized to operate the numerical indicator 3B. Thus the Doubles bet has been properly indicated on the totalizator.

The ticket issuing machine providing the impulse to the coil 80 at the intersection of the No. 10 and No. 5 rows on the totalizator will noi be freed for further operation until the armature 81 thereof has been actuated to close the contacts and 93. When positive potential is supplied to the arm 90 a circuit is completed througl' the conductor 254 and the wire 455 to one terminal of the coil I04 of the machine which i: in operation and the other terminal of this coi is connected by a conductor 236 to the termina II5 and the circuit then extends through Uh! switch blade H6 and the conductor 235 to th( terminal II! and the switch blade II8 to the negative side of the source so that the coil I0 is energized and contact member 55 is returnec to an operative position in a manner as hereinabove described. The coils I06 and I0! howeve: remain energized even though positive potentia is no longer supplied to the conductors 22I anc 40I since the relay I2! is energized as long a: the associated drum I4 and the associated armature 81 remain in their operative positions. F0. example positive current is supplied to the contact I28 and through the conductor 420 to th coil of the relay I21 and the other terminal there of is connected to the terminal I3I by means 0 the conductor 42L The circuit for the coil 0 the relay I21 extends through the switch bladi I 32 and the conductor 422 to the terminal I3; and through the switch blade I34 to the negativ side of the source. The relay I2! is also ener gized when the contacts 94 and 9| of the nu merical indicator which has been actuated close This circuit extends through the conductor 451 When the relay I2! is actuated positive poten tial is then supplied to the terminals of the coil I01 and I06 through the conductors 424 and 425 Thus the group switches I40 and I M remain ii the first operated positions until the N0. 10 dis tributor mechanism and the numerical indicat ing drums at the intersection of the No. 10 3,114 No. 5 rows on the totalizator (Fig. 5) have re turned to their inoperative position.

The invention includes means for preventinl 

